Vacuum-controller for pneumatic cleaning apparatus.



J. S. THURMAN & J. A. DUNLAP. vmuum CONTROLLER FOB. PNEUMATIC CLEANINGAPPARATUS. APPLIOAT-IOH FILED MAR. 2, 190B.

' 1,014,729. Patented Jan 16,1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. S. THURMAN & J. A. DUNLAP. vacuum CONTROLLER FOB PNEUMATIC 'OLEANINGAPPARATUS.

- LPPLIOATIOK IILED HA3. 2, 1908. 1,014,729.

Patented J an. 16, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1711-551: JIDVVL'NTOR/S.

5% 171/ S 7/70RM/IM 1%)?! iq wunp.

UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STROTHER THUBMAN AND JOHN ALEXANDER DUNLAP, OF ST. LOUIS. MISSOURI;SAID DUN'LAP ASSIGNOR T0 SAID THURMAN.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

Application filed March 2, 1908. Serial No. 418,819.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN S. THURMAN and JOHN A. DUNLAB, citizens of theUnited States, and residents of St. Louis, Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum- Controllers for PneumaticCleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification containinga full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

Our invention relates to a vacuum con troller for pneumatic cleaningapparatus.

The object of our invention is to provide simple valves forautomatically regulating the flow of air or steam to the apparatus,thereby correspondingly regulating the vacuum in the vacuum tank, andwhich automatic regulation prevents a waste of the energy necessary tocreate the vacuum, as the action of the automatic valves is dependentupon the amount of air admitted to the apparatus.

To the above purposes, our invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts, which will -be hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccoinpanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of acleaning apparatus equipped with our invention; Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken through the center of the automatic control valve; Fig. 3is a vertical section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 4 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 5 is a planview of the vacuum control valves, with the top plate removed.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings :-1 designates asuitable frame mounted on wheels 2, in order that it may be readilymoved from one position to another as desired; and arranged in saidframe is a box or container 4, which is intended to receive the sweeperor cleaning tools and hose utilized in connection with the cleaningapparatus.

Fixed on the frame 1 in front of the box 4 is a platform 5; andsupported thereon is a vertically disposed vacuum tank 6, which is"cylindrical in form, and provided at its lower end with a dischargespout 7, at the lower end of which is arranged a detachable door 8,which is perfectly air tight plate 11, in which there is formed a valveseat for a gravity ball valve not shown.

Formed integral with' the rear portion of the ring 10 is a housing 16,and communicating with the chamber therein and leading downward from thelate 9 is an open ended tube not shown, lea ing to a dust filter 18,composed of a sack of coarse fabric, which is connected at its upper endto the lower end of the ring 10.

Connected by a nipple to the top of the housing 16 is a Y-connection 21,on the ends of which are carried valves 22, which are adapt-ed toreceive the ends of flexible tubes, which lead to the sweepers orcleaning toois.

Connected to the upper end of the valve housing 14: is one end of ahorizontally disposed tube 25, the opposite end of which curves downwardand is connected to the upper end of a short tube 26; and connected tothe lower end of this tube 26 is the upper end of a tube 27, the o eninginto the upper end of which is funne -shaped, as designated by 28. Thelower end of the tube 27 is connected to a muflier 29.

Formed integral with the top of the tube 26 is a horizontally disposedplate 32, and formed integral with and depending from this plate is anair valve housing 33, the lower end of which is normally closed by ascrew plug 34, in which is formed an air inlet aperture 35. Tapped intothe side of this housing 33 is a compressed air or steam pipe 36, andleading from the op osite side of said housing 33 and form integraltherewith, and with the tube 26, is a tube 37, which is extended to theinterior of said tube 26, as designated b 38; and screw seated in thelower end 0 the extension 38 is a nozzle 39, which is positioned in thecenter of the funnel-shaped opening 28 in the upper end of the tube 27.

. Fixed on top of the plate 32 is a cylindrical housing 40, and arrangedfor operation in the lower portion of the chamber therein is a valve 41,to the center of which is connected the upper end of a stem 42 whichoperatesthrou h an aperture formed in the plate 32, imme iately abovethe center of the valve housing 33; and carried by the lower end of saidstem 42 and operating in the housing 33, is a cylindrical valve 43,provided in one side with a port 44, adapted to coincide with theopening through the tube 37; and formed in the opposite side of thisvalve 43 is an elongated port 45, which communicates with the opening inthe air or steam pipe 36.

Formed through the plate 32 are apertures 46, which permit atmosphericpressure to pass to the interior of the housing 40 beneath the valve 41.1 Operating through the top of the housing 40 is a set screw 47, andcarried by the lower end thereof is a disk 48, and there being anexpansive coil spring 49 arranged between said disk and the' valve 41.

Fixed to the front side of the housing 40 is a casing 50, in the centerof which 18 formed a pair of vacuum chambers 51 and 52, the latter beingimmediately to the rear of the chamber 51, and communicating with thechamber in the housing 40 by means of a port 53. Leading from thechamber 51 to the chamber within the ring 10 1s a tube 54.

Formed integral with the ends of the easing 51 are vertically disposedcylindrical valve housings 55 and 56, the lower portions of which areinteriorly screw threaded; and adjustably located within the screwthreaded portions of said housings are tubular nuts 57, and the lowerends of said cylinders are closed by screw plugs 58.

Formed integral with the top of the casing 50 and with the u per ends ofthe housings 55 and 56 is a horizontally disposed plate 59, in the topside of which are formed shallow compartments 60 and 61, correspondingto the housings 55 and 56; and arranged over said shallow compartmentsis a pair of diaphragms 62, held in place by a plate 63 in which areformed apertures 64 immediately above the center of each diaphragm.

Formed through the plate 59, above the chamber within the housing 55, isan opening 65, the upper edge of which is beveled to form a seat for adisk valve 66, which normally bears against the under side of thediaphragm in the compartment 60, and the stem of said valve passesdownward through a nut 67; and said stem terminating in the tubular nut57. Arranged between the tubular nut 57 and the nut 67 is an expansivecoil spring 68.

Formed through the plate 59, above the chamber within the housing 56, isan opening 69, the lower edge of which is formed into a seat for a valve70, throu h which passes a stem 71 carried by a disk 2, which latteroccupies the compartment 61 beneath the diaphragm therein. Interposed between the valve and the tubular nut 57 in the lower portion of thehousing 56 is an expansive coil spring 73, which is of greater tensionthan is the spring 68, (previously described.)

Formed through the plate 59 is a port 74, which establishescommunication between the chambers 51 and 60, and a second port 75formed through said plate 59 establishes communication between thechambers 51 and 61. A port 76 is formed through one of the side walls ofthe casing 50 and establishes communication between the chamber 52 andthe interior of the housing 55; and a similar port 77 is formed throughthe opposite side wall of the casing 50, and establishes communicationfrom the chamber 52 to the interior of the housing 56.

To secure the best results in the use of a cleaning apparatusconstructed as herein described, it is necessary to maintainapproximately twelve inches of vacuum in the tank 6, and this isaccomplished by closing the valves 22 and turning on the air or steamthrough the pipe 36; and said air or steam passes through the ports 45and 44 in the cylindrical valve 43, from thence through the tube 37 andextension 38, to and through the discharge nozzle 39, from thencethrough the tube 27, and from thence into the muf fler 29; and, afterpassing therethrough, it discharges through the openings in the outershell. The jet of compressed air or steam issuing from the nozzle 39into the funnelshaped upper end 28 of the tube 27 creates a suction andconsequent vacuum within the tank 6 by exhausting the air which is drawnthrough the ring 10, housing 14, (the gravity valve being opened by thesuction,) tube 27, tube 26, and tube 25; and the air thus withdrawn fromthe interior of the tank 6 is carried along with the air or steamdischarging from the nozzle 39. As soon as the proper vacuum has beenestablished within the tank 6, the tools carried on the ends of theflexible tubes are put into service; and when the inlet valves of saidtools are opened, the vacuum in the tank 6 creates suction through theY-connection 21, through the valve or valves 22 which have been opened,through the corresponding flexible tubes, and through the tools whichare in use; and, as a result, the dust and like foreign matter is bysuction drawn through the inlet openings or slots in the tools, andpasses through the flexible tubes, Y-connection 21, and to the interiorof the vacuum tank 6; and said dust and like foreign matter is caught bya dust filter of common construction; and the air drawn into the tank 6during the cleaning action is delivered, (as hereinbefore described,) tothe muffler, from whence it is discharged.

The action of the automatic control valves,

for regulating the position of the valve 43 is as follows :-The Vacuummaintained in the tank 6 is maintained in the compartment 51 by reasonof the tubular connection 54, which leads to said compartment from thering 10, and said vacuum is also maintained in the compartments 60. and61 through the ports 74 and 75. The valve 66 is normally held open bythe spring 68, and, therefore, vacuum is established within the housing55; and by reason of the port 76, said vacuum is maintained in thechamber 52; and by reason of the ort 53, vacuum is maintained within thecasing 40. The vacuum within the housing permits the atmospheric ressureentering ports 46 to elevate the p unger valve 41; and as a result thevalve 43 is drawn u ward throiwh the housing 33, thus material yreducing the flow of compressed air or steam through said control valve;and as soon as this action takes place, the de es of vacuum isproportionately decrease and an equilibrium established. The tension ofthe s ring 68 is so adjusted by means of the tu ular nut 57 that it willbe overcome b the closing of the valve 66 at a pre etermined amount ofvacuum; and when said valve is closed, vacuum is no longer maintained inthe chamber 52 and in the chamber within the housing 40; and, as aresult, the spring 49 expands and moves the plun er valve 41 downward,thus increasing the ow of compressed air or steam through said valve,which, (as hereinbefore described produces greater vacuum within the tan6 and the various parts of the control valves. The vacuum maintainedwithin the chamber 51 is maintained in the compartment 61; and, as aresult, this vacuum draws the correspondin diaphragm 62 downward and 40-forces t e valve 70 open. When a predetermined amount of vacuum thusovercomes the resistance offered by the spring 78, which is set athigher tension than is s rin 68, and when said valve is thus orce open,a corresponding degree of vacuum is established in the chamber 62, byreason of communication through the port 77 and by reason of the ort 53,the same degree of vacuum is esta lished in the chamber within thehousing 40, thus permitting the atmospheric ressure to act and operatethe plunger va vs 41, to ether with the valve 43, which cuts oil t epassage of air or steam through said air valve and consequently reducingthe amount 0 vacuum created. These automatic valves accurately controlthe flow of air or steam through the valve 43, thereby accurately andcorrespondinglv regulating the degree of vacuum accor ing to the numberof sweepers or tools in use; and when there are no sweepers or tools inuse, the supply of air or steam is entirely cut oil, thus preventing thewaste of energy necessary to establish a partial vacuum. When one ormore sweepers or tools are in operation, the action of the valve 60controls the action of the valve 43; and as the vacuum increases ordiminishes, said valve raises or lowers corres ondingly to 0 ion orclose the ports throng said valve. 'hcn there are no swee )OIS or toolsin operation, the valve 66 will close at a predetermined vacuum, andvalve 70 will open at a predetermined vacuum, which is of a higherdegree than the vacuum required to close the valve 66, which actionmaintains the same degree of vacuum within the chamber in the housing40, thus instantly closing the valve 43.

Our improved cleaning apparatus is es pecially applicable for use incleaning cars, residences, and the like, as it can be readily trnsported from one point to another; and, w en in use, the dc ree ofvacuum necessary to the successfu operation of the apparatus isaccurately maintained by the au- -tomatic valves which control the flowof ompressed air or steam necessary to create 1e vacuum.

By mounting an apparatus of our imroved construction on a suitable truckand arranging an exhaust pump on the truck and connecting the vacuumtank with said pump, the apparatus can be utilized for cleaning pavedstreets and the like. When the apparatus is so used, special forms ofnozzles are arranged on the ends of the flexible tubes.

We claim 1. In an apparatus of the class described, tl e combinationwith a vacuum pi e and a v cuum-creating fluid-conductor, o a valve fl rcontrolling the flow of liquid through said conductor, a housing incommunication with the vacuum pipe, means located in said housing andinflucncedby the vacuum for the operation of said valve, and a air ofspring controlled valves influenced y the vacuum for controlling thedegree of vacuum in said housing, the s rin s for controlling saidvalves bem 0 di erent tensions whereby the spring 0% the least tensionwill control a redetermined normal vacuum and the sprm of reater tensioncontrol a predetermine maxlmum vacuum.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a vacuumpipe and a vacuum-producing fluid-conductor arranged to discharge intothe vacuum pipe, of a cutofi valve or controlling the passage of fluidthrough said last mentioned conductor, spring controlled meansinfluenced by the vacuum for operating said valve, a housing forcontainin said means and a pair of spring contro led valves influencedby the vacuum for controlling the degree of vacuum in said housing, the5 rings of said last mentioned valves being 0 different tensions,whereby one valve is arranged to control the cut-off valve at apredetermined normnl vacuum and the other valve arranged to control thecut-0E valve at a predetermined maximum vacuum and means for varyin thetensions of sand 5 rings whereby sni names to this specification, inpresence 0! two subscribin witnesses.

OHN STROTHER THURMAN. JOHN ALEXANDER DUNLAP.

valves will be operate at (hfierent normal Witnesses: and mnxnnumdegrees of vacuums. W. W. Con new, In testimony w ereof, we have signedour Q L. L. Srroncxm...

flopiel of this ntent may be obtained (at Me centl eaeh, by droning theWuhingtun, D. 0."

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